St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-17
Nl,GINNls VS.. MOVES.
A Merry War Stirred up Over the Re
port On-tlae State Weather Service
s.yust Ont of Respect TO NJ cGinnis.,,

The report of D. K. Moyes to the cham
Der of commerce on Monday in relation to
the state weather service and the card of
Mr.. MeGinnis, accusing Mr.. Noyes of IAN
linus" has caused good deal of talk among
those who are interested in this important
project. The report of Mr. Noyes gave
history of the service from its inception in
1882 to the present time, and the clause OBJ
jected to by Mr.. McGinniS was the follow
ing:
Iu 1888 the chief signal officer detailed
Private McGlnnis to take charge of the CEN
trail office and assist in the organization of
the central Office remaining at Mortified IN
til February, 1886. About this time Private
McGinns was dismissed and Private c. E.
Brandenburg took his place.
D. r. McGinnis was asked Yesterday
about the matters alluded to in his card
published in the GLOBE, in which he stated
that the 'animuS' of d. r. Noyes in re-
porting to the chamber of commerce that
he (McGinnis) was dismissed from the
United States Signal service, was prompted
by the fact that he opposed Mr.. Moves
little bilF' to saddle the cost of the state
weather service on the state. When the
state weather service was established MI.
McGinnis was appointed from Washington
as observer, a position which he resigned
last summer to accept an editorial position
on the Farmer. He says that although he
sent in his resignation and asked to be al
lowed to leave the department in June. it
was only in the latter part of August. after
repeated requests, that he was allowed TO
do so, and the the correspondence in reIa-
ton to the matter is now On file in the sig
nal Office in this city.
Mr.. McGinnis said he did not like to say
anything about the matter, and particularly
ne declined to stir up sensation in the
newspapers, but he resented the imputa-
ton that he was dismissed from the service.
cast at him by Mr.. Noyes in his report.
Mr.. McGinnis explained that the state
weather service was conducted by an OBJ
server paid by the United States, and that
the kilograms were all sent out free by the
different railroads; that Prof. William w.
Payne, of Carlton college, had been made
director by the st. Paul chamber of com
merce. and that the little bill' was a bill
before the last legislature to make an ap-
preparation for this service. This bill pro-
yided that the state service should be under
the direction
OF FIVE MANAGERS,
viz, the president of the State Agricultural
society, the president ofthe State Historical
society and the meteorological committee of
the chamber of commerce, which consisted
of D. r. Noyes, Thomas Cochran, Jr.. and
Prof. Phelps; it provided So, 600 for the
service, 5000 to go to the chamber of com.
merce for what it had expended in paving
Prof. Payne $50 per month for
a year, 5000 as the salary of a
director for the service and 81. 100 for
pickings. travelling expenses, etc. ar. Nc
Ginnis explained the absurdity of the state
designating an ordinary citizen to be the
superior of a United States officer and said
he was heartily in favor of the state taking
hold of the service if it were made regular
department of the state government at the
capital, He explained how similar bill
was killed two years ago because it placed
the service in sectarian institution and not
in the state university. He said that while
the cost of the service was about S. per
month for getting up reports and few in
cidental expenses. the pushers of this bill
wanted SO, 600, and Carlton college would
probably have got the benefit of it. AS a
private citizen, familiar with the signal SER
vice, he had appeared before a COMMITTEE
of the house against the bill, which had
failed of passage. Mr.. McGinnis stated
that at one time Mr.. Noyes offered him 4
place on the board of managers if he would
withdraw his opposition to the bill. but thai
he felt insulted and told Mr.. Moves 50 nj
the time.
Incidentally Mr.. McGinnis mentioned
that Mr.. Moves had written two letters tc